NUTRITION POLICY GUIDING FOOD PROCUREMENT FOR THE BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK 1. Statement of Purpose The purpose of this nutrition policy is to guide the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's decisions about the ods to pcure and distribute that will contribute to more nutritious diets of those we serve, as well as alleviate hunger and food insecurity. 2. Policy Rationale and Benefits The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has a history of service to the community, supplying foods to help families in need. The food bank is concerned about the increasing rates of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other serious diet-related diseases and conditions among those we serve. Our food bank has a strong commitment to providing nutritious foods to clients. We want those we serve to know that their health and preferences for more nutritious foods are among our highest considerations when acquiring food. We recognize the increasing role that food banks play in providing nutritious foods to community members in need. Our policy to procure and distribute foods of high nutritional quality demonstrates to the community that we take our role and responsibility seriously. A specific strategy to accomplish our goal of providing more nutritious foods is consideration of the nutrient density of the foods we select for distribution. Such consideration expands the od selection to include ods that are high in preferred dietary nutrients, but also high in non-preferred ingredients, such as sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. The rationale for including them is that these ods may be the only source of the preferred nutrients available to clients and that the foods may include all of the elements of a full meal (e.g., beef stew and many soups). This policy ensures that our organizational commitment to distributing nutritious ods is part of our institutional practice and provides staff with a basis for clear and consistent decision making about the types of ods and beverages we should procure, encourage and prioritize in our work. The policy also serves as a tool for management and accountability r food procurement practices. As we continue to consider the application of the Nutrient Rich Food Index (NRFI) model, we will modify this policy to integrate new information and opportunities. 3. Food Sources Covered by This Policy This policy applies to all foods acquired by the od bank including: • foods and beverages donated by od manufacturers, distributors, retailers, organizations, producers and community members, • foods and beverages obtained from government programs, and • foods and beverages purchased by the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. 1

NUTRITION POLICY GUIDING FOOD PROCUREMENT FOR THE … · nutritious foods is consideration of the nutrient density of the foods we select for distribution. Such consideration expands

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NUTRITION POLICY GUIDING FOOD PROCUREMENT FOR THE BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK

1. Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this nutrition policy is to guide the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank's decisions about the foods to procure and distribute that will contribute to more nutritious diets of those we serve, as well as alleviate hunger and food insecurity.

2. Policy Rationale and Benefits

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has a history of service to the community, supplying foods to help families in need. The food bank is concerned about the increasing rates of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other serious diet-related diseases and conditions among those we serve.

Our food bank has a strong commitment to providing nutritious foods to clients. We want those we serve to know that their health and preferences for more nutritious foods are among our highest considerations when acquiring food.

We recognize the increasing role that food banks play in providing nutritious foods to community members in need. Our policy to procure and distribute foods of high nutritional quality demonstrates to the community that we take our role and responsibility seriously. A specific strategy to accomplish our goal of providing more nutritious foods is consideration of the nutrient density of the foods we select for distribution. Such consideration expands the food selection to include foods that are high in preferred dietary nutrients, but also high in non-preferred ingredients, such as sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. The rationale for including them is that these foods may be the only source of the preferred nutrients available to clients and that the foods may include all of the elements of a full meal (e.g., beef stew and many soups).

This policy ensures that our organizational commitment to distributing nutritious foods is part of our institutional practice and provides staff with a basis for clear and consistent decision making about the types of foods and beverages we should procure, encourage and prioritize in our work. The policy also serves as a tool for management and accountability for food procurement practices.

As we continue to consider the application of the Nutrient Rich Food Index (NRFI) model, we will modify this policy to integrate new information and opportunities.

3. Food Sources Covered by This Policy

This policy applies to all foods acquired by the food bank including: • foods and beverages donated by food manufacturers, distributors, retailers,

organizations, producers and community members,• foods and beverages obtained from government programs, and• foods and beverages purchased by the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.